Accessory storage device

ABSTRACT

A storage device for accessories, such as wakeboards and the like on a boat, may be mounted to maximize space and secure objects for storage. The device includes displaceable levers, fixed arms, and an actuating assembly that provides a spring bias for displacing the levers towards the fixed arms to provide a clamping force against an item or accessory to be stored.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/407,293, filed Apr. 4, 2003, which is entitled “AccessoryStorage Device,” the specification of which is incorporated herein inits entirety, and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/370,075, filed Apr. 4, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a device for mounting and storingaccessories and, more specifically, to a device for mounting and storingboards and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Currently, the design of boats, boat accessories, and spaceallotment on a boat is the subject of intense engineering. Each of theseis examined from the standpoint of functions, aesthetics, andergonomics. The use of the boat and its various accouterments areideally designed so that the boat is easy to use and navigate, thecompartments of the boat designed for human occupation are comfortableand pleasing and functional, and the compartments for storingaccessories are simple to access while abstaining from hindering anoccupant's movement and while also maximizing the use of the boat'son-board space.

[0004] In comparison to other water sports, wakeboarding is a sportstill in relative nascence. The sport is similar to waterskiing in thata person, the wakeboarder, is towed by a rope behind a powerboat.Instead of riding a relatively narrowly ski, however, a wakeboarderrides an appropriately titled wakeboard. A wakeboard is much wider thana waterski and typically much shorter. In addition, the boats used totow wakeboarders have a feature not utilized with waterskiing,specifically, a tower. From the tower, a mount is located from which thewakeboarder's tow rope is attached. The mount, being located at a higherpoint than the wakeboarder's grip, therefore provides a lift to thewakeboarder which facilitates the performance of tricks and stunts bythe wakeboarder.

[0005] Wakeboarding is considered by its participants to be an exciting,fresh, and trendsetting sport. Accordingly, the items that go along withwakeboarding reflect this attitude. For instance, boards are fancifullydecorated in a manner similar to skateboarding, surfing, and otherso-called “extreme sports.” Therefore, a strong appeal to a wakeboarderis not only the function of a wakeboard's or a wakeboarding boat'sdesign but also its aesthetic. Of course, the ergonomics, or simplicityof use, is also a factor.

[0006] Like in waterskiing, the wakeboard is usually carried on boardthe boat. In order to conserve space within the passenger compartment,it is preferred that any on-board wakeboards refrain from hindering themovement of occupants, and that the wakeboards are stored simply andsecurely, as well as being readily removed from storage for use.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for devices for on-board storage ofboard like accessories, such as wakeboards, that are functional andergonomically and aesthetically pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a storageapparatus is disclosed including a body defining at least one accessoryreceiver, at least one clamping member at the at least one accessoryreceiver, the clamping member having a first position to enable the atleast one receiver to receive an item for storage and a second positionto apply force to secure an item in the at least one receiver forstorage, and an actuator that actuates movement of the at least oneclamping member between the first and second position and having aspring biasing the clamping member to the first position.

[0009] The clamping member may be a lever and may be spring-biasedtowards the accessory receiver. The lever may have a pivot, and theactuating assembly may spring-bias the lever around its pivot forbiasing the lever towards the accessory receiver for securing anaccessory between the lever and the accessory receiver.

[0010] Each accessory receiver and the clamping member have opposingportions including a bumper and providing a space in which an accessoryis secured.

[0011] The actuating assembly may include a shifter which the actuatormay shift to provide the clamping member with its position. The clampingmember may include a lever extending in a first direction from a pivot,the actuating assembly may spring-bias the lever around the lever'spivot when in the second position for biasing the lever towards theaccessory receiver for securing an accessory between the lever and theaccessory receiver, and the clamping member may include a lobe extendingfrom a second direction from the pivot. The lobe may include a bore forreceiving the shifter, the actuator assembly may include at least afirst lever spring bias member, and the actuator may move the shiftersuch that the shifter forces the lever spring bias member against thelobe and provides the clamping member a rotational spring bias aroundthe pivot.

[0012] The actuator may be a handle, and may include a releasable lockfor retaining the actuator in an actuated position. The lock may includea displaceable pin lock which moves into contact with a lock portion ofthe device when the actuator is in the actuated position. The pin lockmay be biased to a position for contacting the lock portion of thedevice. The pin lock may be released by displacing the pin lock from itsbiased position such that the handle may be returned to the releaseposition. The device may also include a cover cap with a port throughwhich the actuator extends, the lock portion of the device may be a wallon the cover cap, and the pin lock may include a flat portion for matingwith the wall on the cover cap for retaining the actuator in theactuated position. The cover cap may mount the device to a boat, forexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view in partial phantom of a firstembodiment of an accessory storage device embodying features of thepresent invention in a released position;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in partial phantom of the deviceof FIG. 1 in an actuated position without an accessory;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in partial phantom of the deviceof FIG. 1 in an actuated position as it would be with at least oneaccessory mounted therein;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in partial phantom of an actuatingdevice embodying features of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cover cap embodying features ofthe present invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an accessorydevice embodying features of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 6 with a coverremoved to display an actuating assembly;

[0020]FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the device of FIG. 6 withthe cover to display the actuating assembly;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the actuating assembly of thedevice of FIG. 6;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a side elevation view in partial phantom depicting analternative embodiment the present invention; and

[0023]FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment ofan actuator of a form of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a storagedevice 10 embodying features of the present invention. This device isdesigned to securely retain generally planar items such as skis,surfboards, and wakeboards. In addition, as will be clear from thefollowing description, the device provides a spring-actuated clampingforce which may define a closed loop making it possible to generallyretain other objects with the device.

[0025] In FIG. 1, the device 10 is shown in a released position andincludes generally an actuating assembly 14, a body 18, and a cover cap22. The actuating assembly 14 has an actuating handle 24. The cover cap22 has a port 23 through which the handle 24 extends. FIG. 2 depicts theactuating assembly 14 in a clamping or actuated position and, ascompared to FIG. 1, the handle 24 is in a second, actuated position.Viewing FIGS. 1 and 2 together, the device 10 can be seen as beingactuated by the depression of a grip 26 of the handle 24 in a directiontoward the body 18 as depicted by reference arrow D.

[0026] As depicted in FIG. 1, the grip 26 of the handle 24 is angledbelow horizontal. An alternative, the grip 26 may be angled abovehorizontal, such as is depicted in phantom as handle 24′. In such case,the device 10 is actuated by shifting a grip 26′ in a direction asdepicted by reference arrow D′.

[0027] The actuating assembly 14 further includes clamping members or,preferably, actuating levers 26. As the handle 24 is displaced to anactuated position, the levers 26 of the device 10 move in the directionof reference arrow L to a displaced position as shown in FIG. 2. Itshould be noted that FIG. 2 shows the displacement of the levers 26 inthe absence of an item to be stored by the device 10. When an item isstored by the device 10, the levers 26 may be either minimally displacedor remain virtually stationary despite the actuated position of thehandle 24, as is depicted in FIG. 3. The actuation of the handle 24creates a spring bias force against the levers 26 such that the levers26 are displaced from their released position (FIG. 1) to their actuatedposition (FIGS. 2 and 3). In the presence of an item to be clamped inthe device 10, the spring bias force is increased by the limiting effectof the movement of the levers 26, which increases the clamping ability(i.e., the clamping force) applied by the levers 26 to one or more itemsin the device.

[0028] The body 18 is formed of a material suitable for dampenvironments, such as aluminum. The body 18 includes a plurality ofaccessory receivers depicted here in the form of three arms 30 definingtwo accessory receiving slots 32. The arms 30 angle upward so that itemsto be stored may be placed in the slots 32 and may rest in the slots 32by their own weight, and so that the extent to which the device 10protrudes, such as from a boat, is reduced. When the clamping members,such as the levers 26, move to an actuated position, they are displacedinto the receiving slots 32.

[0029] Each arm 30 defines a recess 34 designed to receive at least aportion of one of the levers 26 when in a released position. Withreference to the X-Y-Z coordinate system provided in FIG. 1, the levers26 may have a width in the Z direction equal to, larger than, or smallerthan the width of the arms 30 in the Z direction. In cases where thelevers 26 have a smaller width than the arms 30, the recess 34preferably has longitudinal side walls 35 (see FIG. 8) alongside thelateral portions of the levers 26. In the other cases, the lever extendsparallel to the longitudinal sides of the arms or beyond.

[0030] As the accessory or item is inserted into the device 10 forstorage, it necessarily will contact surfaces of the device 10. In orderto minimize damage to the item when being inserted (particularly if donehaphazardly so that the item contacts the arms 30 in a number ofpoints), the interior of the slots 32, i.e., the surface of the levers26 and arms 30, and the ends of the arms 30, are covered with a layer ofcushioning material 40, such as rubber or any other material suitablefor damping impact shock and appropriate for damp environments.

[0031] In FIGS. 1-3, the dashed line indicates generally interior cavityportions of the body 18 and the cap 22. The actuating assembly 14 islocated, secured, and operates at least in part within the interiorcavity portions.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the actuator assembly 14 has the twolevers 26 and the single handle 24. It is noted here that it iscontemplated that a device in accordance with the present invention mayhave more than two slots and thus more than two levers and/or handles.The actuator assembly 14 includes a shifter 38 that is shifted, e.g., inthe Y direction, by movement of the handle 24. The handle 24 has a pairof pivots, a body pivot 40 about a pin 42 connected to the body 18, anda shifter pivot 44 about a pin 42 connected to the shifter 38. Eachlever 26 has a body pivot 41 about a pin 43 connected to the body 18 andan end lobe 45, and defines a bore 46 in the lobe 45 through which theshifter 38 passes.

[0033] The shifter 38 includes an elongated shaft 39 and a centralbracket 50 attached to the shaft 39 and to which the handle 24 attachesat the shifter pivot 44. The central bracket 50 includes top and bottomwalls 52 a, 52 b extending generally transverse to the shaft 39 of theshifter 38. Against the top and bottom walls 52 are friction reducers,such as nylon washers 54 a, 54 b with a central bore (not shown) throughwhich the shaft 39 extends. The washer 54 a on the top wall 52 a abuts acoil spring 60 a, which in turn abuts a friction reducer, such as anylon washer 54 c, through which the shaft 39 extends. The nylon washer54 c abuts the lobe 45 a of one of the levers 26 a. In the present form,the lobe 45 a of the lever 26 a abuts a stop 47, such as a metal washer47 secured to the shaft 39 by a screw 48 at the end of the shaft 39.Alternatively and in addition, the lobe 45 a of the lever 26 a mayfurther abut a friction reducer (not shown), which in turn may abut acoil spring (not shown) secured against the inner cavity surface of thebody 18 as at 49 thereby providing a spring bias to the releasedposition.

[0034] The washer 54 b on the bottom wall 52 b of the central bracket 50abuts the lobe 45 b of a second one of the levers 26, which, in turn,abuts a nylon washer 54 d. The nylon washer 54 d abuts a coil spring 60b, which is held at its lower end 61 to the end of the shaft 39, whichhas a stop 64, such as a steel washer secured to the shifter by anaxially located screw 66.

[0035] In operation, when the grip 25 of the handle 24 is displaced inthe direction of arrow D, the handle 24 rotates around its body pivot 40thereby causing its shifter pivot 42 to displace in the vertical (i.e.,positive Y) direction. This displacement forces the shifter 38 to alsodisplace in the vertical direction. As the shifter 38 displaces in thevertical direction, the bracket 50 biases the coil spring 60 a againstthe lobe 45 a of the lever 26 a, thereby also biasing the lobe 45 aupward and rotationally biasing the lever 26 a around its body pivot 40so that the lever 26 a is biased into the receiving slot 32 a.Simultaneously, the movement of the shifter 38 in a vertical directiondraws its lower end 61 in a vertical direction. The coil spring 60 bbiases against the lobe 45 b of the lever 26 b to bias the lobe 45 bupward and to bias rotationally the lever 26 b around its body pivot 40so that the second lever 26 b also is biased into the receiving slot 32b.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 4, a form of an actuator in the form of ahandle 74 is depicted with a grip 75 and a body pivot 80. The actuationof the actuator assembly 14 as described above is preferably biased to arelease position for the insertion or removal of accessories, such aswakeboards, from the device. In operation, the actuation assembly 14 isdesigned to overcome this bias to secure the items; however, it will notmaintain the secure position unless locked in that position, but theassembly 14 must be held against the bias. Accordingly, a lock mechanism90 may be provided as, for example, the one depicted in FIG. 4.

[0037] The handle 74 defines a central bore 92 with a first compartment93, a second compartment 94, and a third compartment 95. The firstcompartment 93 houses a cylindrical first section 102 of a lock pin 100,the second compartment 94 houses a cylindrical second section 104 of thelock pin 100, and the third compartment 95 houses a third section 106 ofthe lock pin 100. In assembling the lock mechanism 90, the secondsection 104 of the lock pin 100 is joined with a bias member, preferablya coil spring 110 into which the second section 104 extends. Preferably,the first and second sections 102 and 104 of the lock pin 100 are formedintegral, and with the first section 102 being of a larger diameter thanthe second section 104. The diametral size difference at the junctureforms a shoulder 112 against which one end of the coil spring 110 abuts.The first compartment 93 is demarcated from the second compartment 94 bya shoulder 114 against which the other end of the coil spring 110 abuts.

[0038] After inserting the second section 104 into the coil spring 110,the first and second sections 102, 104 and the coil spring 110 areinserted into the first and second compartments 93 and 94 such that aportion of the second section 102 extends into the third compartment 95.The second section 104 is then attached to the third section 106 suchthat the first and second sections 102, 104 are secured in the bore 92.The third section 106 rises through a port 116 adjoining the centralbore 92 and opening to the top side 118 of the handle 24.

[0039] The third portion includes a first angled surface 119 and asecond angled surface 120. When the handle 24 is moved to the actuated,displaced position, the flat 120 abuts a lock portion in the form ofwall 122 in the port 23 of the cover cap 22 such that the handle 24 isheld or locked in the actuated position. The spring 110 biases the thirdportion outward of the cavity, thereby causing the first angled surface119 to cam over the edge of the wall 122 and, eventually, the secondangled surface 120 to release from the cavity to engage the wall 122. Inthis position, the flat 120 and the wall 122 mate flat and flush againsteach other. In order to release the handle 24, the handle 24 is slightlydepressed so as to separate the flat 120 from the wall 122, and the lockpin 100 is depressed to compress the coil spring 110 and shift the thirdsection 106 inward so that the third section 106 clears the wall 122 andshifts into the cavity through the port 23.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 5, once assembled but prior to receivingaccessories, the device 10 is secured to a structure, such as a boat,for use. For example, in order to minimize any impedance to occupants ofa boat, the device 10 is secured so that it is pointed outward from theboat, as are the accessories mounted thereon. Accordingly, the cover cap22 includes a pair of posts 130 and a threaded bore 132. The posts 130pass through openings defined by a mounting structure 134 that is a partof the boat. A threaded fastener 136 is received by a bore 138 in thestructure 134 and is secured in the threaded bore 132, thereby securingthe device 10 to the boat by securing the cover cap 22 to the boat. Thecover cap 22 includes threaded bores 140 for securing to the body 18,and includes the interior cavity 142 for receiving a handle 24.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, another form of a device 200embodying features of the present invention is depicted. The device 200includes a handle 224 located at the uppermost portion of a cover cap222 and an actuating mechanism 214. The actuating mechanism, from bottomto top, includes a nut 230 threaded onto a shifter shaft 232 that isvertically aligned and generally runs the height of the actuatingmechanism 214. The nut 230 holds a washer 234 against a coil spring 236that abuts a friction reducing washer 238. The washer 238 abuts a lobe240 of a lever 226 a, and the other side of the lobe 240 abuts afriction reducing washer 242. The washer 242 is against or in indirectcommunication with a spring 244. The spring 244 abuts a frictionreducing washer 246 that abuts a lobe 250 of a second lever 226 b. Theother side of the lobe 250 abuts with a lobe 252 on the handle 224 witha friction reducing washer 254 in between the two lobes 250, 252. As canbe seen, the shifter shaft 232 passes through each of the pieces of theactuating mechanism 214 and is secured at the top end by a second nut231 with a friction reducing washer 260 against the lobe 252.

[0042] The actuating assembly of FIG. 9 is a self-locking mechanismwhere the lobe 252 of the handle 224 nests and cooperates with the lobe250 of the lever 226 b. More specifically, the downward rotation of thehandle 224 enables the springs 236 and 244 to bias the levers 226 a, 226b toward the receiving slots 262. Beyond a certain rotation, thecomplementary cooperation of the lobes 252 and 250 causes the lobes 250and 252 to diminish the biasing force towards the unreleased position,and then to lock the handle 224. That is, the curvature of the lobes 250and 252 enables them to nestle against one another. To release the lock,the handle 224 is lifted to release gripping or clamping provided by thelevers 226 a, 226 b.

[0043] An alternative embodiment of the levers 326 is depicted in FIG.10 and corresponding to the levers 26 of FIGS. 1-3. As can be seen, thelevers 326 each may have a first portion 330 extending from the bodypivot 41 of the lever 26 and a oblique portion 328 at an angle from thefirst portion 330. The configuration of the levers 326 provides an areaof contact between bumper 40 portions, as at 350. A recess 334corresponding to recess 34 may be provided. However, as the lever 326has a non-linear shape, the recess 334 has a corresponding shape.

[0044] An alternative embodiment handle 424 to the handles 24 and 24′ ofFIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 11. The handle 424 includes a grip 426corresponding to grips 26 and 26′, a body pivot 440 corresponding tobody pivot 40, and shifter pivot 444 corresponding to shifter pivot 44.As depicted, the handle 424 shows a central bore 492 corresponding tothe central bore 92 of FIG. 4. The handle 424 is rotated in thedirection of reference arrow D in order to actuate the device to anactuated position in the above-discussed manner.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spring-bias attribute of theactuating assembly 14 has numerous benefits. For example, it should benoted that FIG. 2 depicts the levers 26 in an actuated position wherethe levers 26 are displaced through the receiving slots 32 to the pointof contacting the opposing arm 30. This displacement defines a space 280within which other items may be retained, such as an item received inthe slot 32 with a large enough size to be contacted by the bumpers 40,or any type of closed-loop item that may be hung from the arm 30 (suchas the looped heel portion of a flipper). Also, it should be noted thatthe levers 26 may be adjusted from the actuated position. That is, thelevers 26 are not mechanically forced to displace a prescribed distance.This allows the levers 26 to clamp to items located in the receivingslot 32 without damaging the items through excessive clamping.

[0046] While the invention has been described with respect to specificexamples including presently preferred modes of carrying out theinvention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there arenumerous variations and permutations of the above described systems andtechniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage apparatus comprising: a body; at leastone clamping member displaceable relative to the body to move between afirst position permitting a storage item to be received between the bodyand clamping member and a second position for retaining a storage itemreceived between the body and the clamping member; and an actuatorbiasing the at least one clamping member and being selectively operableto move the at least one clamping member toward the second position andto provide a clamping force to an item received between the body and theclamping member.
 2. The storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bodyand clamping member define a receiver for storing the storage itemtherein.
 3. The storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein the receiverincludes cushioning material for contacting a surface of the storageitem when the clamping force is applied to the storage item.
 4. Thestorage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a lock forretaining the actuator in a position for moving the clamping member tothe second position.
 5. The storage apparatus of claim 4 wherein thelock is selectively releaseable.
 6. A storage apparatus comprising: abody; a plurality of clamping members having a first position permittinga storage item to be received between the body and the clamping memberand being displaceable relative to the body to retain a storage itemreceived between the body and the clamping member; and an actuator forselecting the position of the clamping member.
 7. The apparatus of claim6 wherein the actuator cooperates with each clamping member todistribute bias force to the clamping members.
 8. The apparatus of claim6 wherein the actuator cooperates to provide a bias towards a selectedposition for the clamping member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 whereinthe actuator includes a lock for retaining the actuator in a positionfor biasing the clamping member to retain a storage item between thebody and the second position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein thelock is selectively releaseable.
 11. A storage apparatus comprising: abody defining at least one receiver; at least one clamping membercooperating with the at least one receiver and being moveable between afirst position so the at least one receiver can receive an item forstorage and a second position to apply force to secure an item in the atleast one receiver for storage; and an actuator biasing the at least oneclamping member, the actuator being selectively operable to move the atleast one clamping member toward the second position and convert thebiasing of the at least one spring to a clamping force.
 12. A storageapparatus comprising: a body; at least one clamping member wherein thebody and clamping member define a receiver for a storage item; and anactuator cooperating with clamping member to bias the clamping memberfor retaining a storage item within the receiver.
 13. The storageapparatus of claim 12 wherein the actuator and clamping member may bebiased to a receiving position such that the receiver is capable ofaccepting an item therein